New critters for the SW tank!

[Rue]

I was bad...went to the reef store...

Came home with a banded pipefish (eats mysis already) and I hope I have enough copepods to provide him with live food...

...and TWO feather stars! They are beautiful! One was striped maroon, the other striped orange...I couldn't decide so I took both. Hopefully they'll be okay...I also bought a bottle of fresh phyto for them...

They're acclimating now!:1luvu:

[gem]

How long has the tank been running? You will probably be ok if it was completely cycled, but you'll probably need to target feed that pipefish and make sure he's getting enough food. Good to know he is eating. You can also by live copepods to feed him as well.
Another thing about the pipefish, you'll need to be careful what other fish you add to the tank, as pipefish are not so quick moving and won't do well with alot of competition for food.

[Rue]

The tank has been running since last May, so it's been a good 10 months.

My other fish include 2 ocellaris, 2 pajama cardinals, 1 prawn goby...all peaceful......and there might be one green clown goby...or not...I haven't seen him for a long time...

The only critter I'm worried about is the anemone...but she's taken residence in the far right hand corner...

I'll take a picture...but I've lost my photo-shopping program (trial expired), so I don't know when I can post them...working on getting software...

[squirt_12]

Sound very nice! I can't wait to see pics!

[Rue]

Took a couple! Don't think they're going to turn out though...

Geez...I hate when I don't have software when I need/want it...

[Tigerbarb]

Nice to hear about your new lil' friends! Pipefish are adorable. There are cold water pipefish too.

[Rue]

I know! If I ever got another smaller tank, it would be very tempting to do a coldwater SW tank!

I just released 'em into the tank! Everyone's looking good! The feather stars unfurled...OMG...they're HUGE! (Spanwise!)...:1luvu:

[Tigerbarb]

Be sure to post some pix for us all to see thumbs2:

[cocoa_pleco]

pipefish are awesome, i almost bought one a while ago

[spudbuds]

Congrats on the new stuff! Can't wait to see pics.

[NickFish]

Congrats!
I can't wait to see them!

[Rue]

I need software!

I don't know what to do...spend $200 and upgrade my MS Office, or buy an Adobe Photoshop package for about the same price?

Any suggestions? The new Office 2007 has a MS photo program that is easy to use and just right for the bit of tweaking I do...I'm not interesting in 'photo-shopping' per se...

[jphonger]

I need software!

I don't know what to do...spend $200 and upgrade my MS Office, or buy an Adobe Photoshop package for about the same price?

Any suggestions? The new Office 2007 has a MS photo program that is easy to use and just right for the bit of tweaking I do...I'm not interesting in 'photo-shopping' per se...

there is free open source software at [Only Registered Users Can See Links.]
it works well and is almost as good as photoshop...
most digital cameras come with software that works well too. you may be able to dowload their software for free too... surf around, you can probably find something that wont cost you a dime and will do what you need.

[Rue]

Thank you ! I'll go check it out this afternoon! I have to become a responsible adult for a while now and go do a bunch of boring adult errands that I don't want to do...:hmm3grin2orange:

[fins_n_fur]

I hate doing responsible adult errands :hmm3grin2orange:

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

Nice. Can't wait to see pics. Just one word of caution on the Pipefish, they are notoriously difficult to keep. They usually will only take live foods but they can be switched to frozen foods but they will only take the frozen if it is moving in the water column. Also be careful of them if you have an Anemone in there or other corals with stinging cells such as LPS, they can do damage to your Pipefish.

[Rue]

Yes...I took the orange-banded pipefish that was eating frozen mysis...

I do have an anemone and some other LPS, which I hadn't realized would be an issue until I came home (duh! So much for my boy scout motto of 'be prepared)...however, I hope he'll be okay and that there's enough room in the tank for him to swim without the danger of being eaten...

I'm downloading GIMP now...I'm on dial-up...could be a while...

[Rue]

Woohoo! GIMP worked! But it might take me some time to figure out what's what...

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[cocoa_pleco]

lol, thats a raninbow of colors!

[Rue]

Couldn't get a clear one of the pipefish...don't have the good camera available this weekend...

So here it is, while acclimating:

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[Rue]

...you betcha! I was going to go with a biotope originally...

...now I'm just going for a colourful specimen tank...:hmm3grin2orange:

[squirt_12]

Very nice Rue! The tnak is very colourful! I love the pipefish. Its got lots of nice colour to it.
What are the orange and pink big things in the first pic??? It may sound like a dumb question but I don't know.

[Rue]

Those are the two new feather stars I picked up yesterday...so cute!

[squirt_12]

Those are the two new feather stars I picked up yesterday...so cute!
OK. I sort of thought so but I didn't want to say something and be wrong and sound stupid so I thought I would ask.
Yes they are VERY cute. I love them. How big will they get??

[Rue]

I'm not sure, they curl up during the day, and then unfurl during the night to feed...

They already have a goo 9-10" span I think...

[squirt_12]

I'm not sure, they curl up during the day, and then unfurl during the night to feed...

They already have a goo 9-10" span I think...
WOW....thats big. lol. They are very nice though :thumb:

[Tolley]

Congrats on the new additions, i hope they're settling in well! They look awesome! Pics are very neat and clear too!! :19:

[spudbuds]

Very nice Rue! I can see why you had to have them.

[jimpierce]

wow those feather stars are awesome. How big do they get?

[coachfraley]

AMAZING! Those things look straight out of a Dr. Suess book!

I think a full tank shot is in order!

[Rue]

Thanks! I'll try and get a new tank shot...be forewarned...I have a bit of a macro-algae problem!

I don't know how big the feather stars get...I was assuming these were adults...

They are filter feeders...so I have to feed them phyto every night...wonder what that's gonna do to the nutrient level of my tank? Guess I'll find out soon enough! :c1: